Castro Captures State Title, Mercedes wins State Powerlifting Championship
By TANYA GARCIA | The Mercedes Enterprise
Isaiah Castro powered his way to a state title in the 148-pound division, helping lift the Mercedes Tigers to a first-place team finish at the 5A/6A Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) State Tournament held in Abilene. Teammate Matthew Perez also delivered a strong performance, earning third place in the 308-pound division.
“I’m a state champion and a team champ in my senior year and it feels great,” Castro said. “I went in there with the intent of winning, and I had nothing else in mind but just winning. I want to give a big shoutout to my coaches. The meet wasn’t really going my way and they were there to pick me up and reassure me we were going to get it done and come out with the gold.”
Castro squatted 575-pounds, benched 405-pounds and deadlifted 530-pounds with a combined total weight of 1,507-pounds to lift him to number one in the state.
The team is led by Head Coach Brigido Gonzalez and Assistant Coach Geraldo Perez.
“This is an amazing accomplishment for our school,” said Mercedes Athletic Director Roger Adame. “Our coaches did a great job.”
According to Head Coach Gonzalez, the Tigers have seen growing success in recent years, winning multiple invitational championships and collecting a trove of medals. But this year, the team made some key adjustments that paid off in the postseason.
“We had Isaiah and Matthew, along with a few others, scoring points for us throughout the season,” said Coach Gonzalez. “But when it came down to regionals and state, Isaiah and Matthew rose to the top and got the job done. They executed the coaching they received week in and week out and brought home a championship.”
Isaiah entered the state tournament as the top-ranked lifter in his division, but Coach Gonzalez noted it wasn’t his strongest day in competition. Despite that, Isaiah pushed through and secured the title, showing grit and determination when it mattered most.
To celebrate the momentous achievement, Mercedes High School held a parade in the team’s honor. The Mercedes Mighty Tiger Band Drumline led the way, with high school students lining the route, cheering on their champions. The celebration concluded with the official championship trophy announcement, surrounded by proud family members, coaches, and school administrators.
